“The property was originally held on lease from the George Fentham Birmingham Trust, a local grant-making charity providing funds to individuals for educational purposes and to Birmingham-based charities supporting people in need.

“The building, originally constructed in 1958, required substantial upgrading and improvement and early discussions were held with the freehold owners, the Fentham Birmingham Trust, to pursue a redevelopment scheme for the whole of the site.”

The Fentham Birmingham Trust has always supported the YMCA’s proposals to assist young adults with accommodation and assistance in finding employment and a permanent home of their own.

The Trust gave their agreement in principle to a sale of the freehold to enable the site to be redeveloped.

The YMCA then found a partner, Mercian Housing Association, who, with their nominated developer, Zenith Development Partnerships, worked-up a planning application which involved the demolition of all of the buildings on site and the redevelopment of the site for mixed use comprising residential (move-on) accommodation, community facilities, sports facilities, and ancillary office accommodation within a two to four storey building.

This planning application was approved last October.

The YMCA then reached agreement with the Fentham Birmingham Trust for the purchase of the freehold interest in the whole of the land holding for a figure of £1.15 million. The site has an area of 2.2 acres.

Following the grant of planning permission the YMCA negotiated the sale of the rear part of the land holding on a 125-year lease for £1.36 million, retaining the front part of the site to Reservoir Road for their use.

The agreed proposal envisaged the YMCA managing the “move-on” accommodation for Mercian Housing Association which included the rehousing of their current residents on site.

The development is programmed in a number of phases, with a new access and the rear “move-on” accommodation being built as phase 1, commencing on site next month, with the rest of the accommodation being built in subsequent phases.

The overall proposal has received £1.5 million in grant funding from the Department of Communities and Local Government, together with £4.3 million from the Homes & Communities Agency for phase 1, the “move-on” accommodation and around £5 million private finance raised by Mercian.

Mr Gough added: “This is an innovative scheme for Erdington and the city, replacing and providing much needed accommodation.”

The professional team includes BBLB Architects and DBK Group Project Managers. The contractor is Wates Living Space.